Faith Briefs

December 14, 2006

Church to offer items new or gently used SOUTH BEND -- Laymen Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 303 S. Kenmore St., will give away a large variety of items from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. New or gently used items will be available. Longest Night services at two area churches SOUTH BEND -- Two area churches have announced plans to hold Longest Night services. Northwest United Methodist Church, 21855 Brick Road, will hold a Service of the Longest Night at 6 p.m. Sunday. Evangel Heights United Methodist Church, 114 N. Ironwood Drive, will hold a Longest Night service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Designed for those who are grieving or hurting or who seek a simpler expression of faith during the holiday season, the services will include times of reflection and prayer. All are welcome. For more information, call Northwest at (574) 272-9486 or Evangel Heights at (574) 234-8379. Ceremonies to mark Moreau's beatification SOUTH BEND -- Beatification ceremonies will be held Sept. 15, 2007, in Le Mans, France, for the Rev. Basil Anthony Mary Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross that operates the University of Notre Dame. The celebration will take place over three days, says Sister Joy O'Grady, president of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. A vigil of prayer will be held Sept. 14 in the Church of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix. The rite of beatification will be Sept. 15 in Centre Antarès. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be Sept. 16 at the Cathedral of Saint Julien. Moreau will be given the title "Blessed." In recognition of his "life of heroic virtue," Moreau received the title "Venerable" in 2003. Church officials recently ruled that a Canadian woman suffering from pleuritis of the left lung was cured in 1948 through Moreau's intercession. Attribution of one miracle is a requirement of beatification. Goshen church offers dinner on Christmas GOSHEN -- First Presbyterian Church, 215 E. Lincoln Ave., will host its eighth annual Christmas Day Dinner for the community at 1 p.m. Dec. 25. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m., with guests seated and served a free traditional holiday meal from 1 to 2 p.m. No reservations are needed for the meal, which is open to anyone. Carryout and delivery are available. For delivery, call the church at (574) 533-7845 (9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 9-11 a.m. Friday). Volunteers are needed to help serve and clean up. Anyone wishing to help with the dinner may call the church. Last year, more than 300 meals were served in addition to carryouts and deliveries. Volunteers needed to help hurricane victims ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Volunteers of America seeks religious organizations willing to participate in a group retreat or mission trip in New Orleans, Alabama or Mississippi helping ongoing relief efforts for the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Volunteers of America is a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need. For more information, go to the New Orleans Volunteers of America Web site at www.voagno.org or call toll-free (877) 862-2311; or visit the Alabama and Mississippi Volunteers of America Web site at www.voase.org or call (800) 859-4431.